Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Oh dear, I am all behind again!Here are the questions for last weekWhat is(are) your favorite place(s) to knit? I knit in several places where I am happy. Mainly, I suppose, at home on a 2 seater settee, the end I use depends on which end Lily-the-dog chooses unless she opts to lie along the back then I have free pick. I also knit in the staff room at work, on the bus to work on the odd occasions I travel by bus, at the bi-monthly coffee morning at John Lewis Nottingham and anywhere else that seems appropriate.

What supplies (besides yarn & needles) make the setting perfect for knitting?As well as a nice detective on the T.V. and a cushion for my back I like to have a bag of sundry accessories to hand - stitch-markers, tape measures, row counters, scissors, a tiny hook for dropped stitches and other nick nackery. I have a book called 'The Old Time Tools and Toys of Needlework' and this is how I love to think of my accoutrements.

What is your favorite supper for a hot summer evening?

A salmon fillet with herb butter, tiny new potatoes and salad followed by some lovely icecream with fresh raspberries.

Saturday, July 19, 2008

The bottom of our road literally runs into Shipley Country Park.Now, with all this beauty on our doorstep wouldn't you suppose we would be constant visitors there? Yes! So why do we never go? I had been thinking this morning of somewhere to go for a trip out and maybe take Lily-the-Dog for a nice walk and I suddenly remembered it, so, saving goodness knows how much petrol, that is where we went. We took a turn around the easy walk which suited James with his wobbliness. Lily-the-dog had a lovely time forging ahead but checking back frequently to see we were still following. We finished off sitting in the sun outside the visitors centre with coffees and a home made cake between us. Apparently the scones sell out as soon as they come out of the oven which, to me anyway, begs the question why don't they make more????

Thursday, July 17, 2008

This week I am ahead of the game with the question of the week...in fact I am answering it in the actual week it is set!Questions #6What is your favorite type of project to take along on holiday/vacation?

The obvious answer for their portability is socks of course but I also love to take a nice lacy shawl.

Tell us about a time that you packed too much knitting or were stranded without knitting.Well I have already told this story. See the post for Sunday June 29th.

Today I have been on strike along with thousands of other Unison members. We were on strike yesterday too but as I am usually off on Wednesdays Millie-minding, I didn't notice any difference. I took advantage of the day by having my eyes tested this morning. My prescription has hardly changed in the 3 years since I last went but glasses have so I ordered new ones. On the way I discovered, in an Ilkeston side street, a previously unknown LYS! For some reason (probably the cost of new specs) I didn't go in although I admit I was attracted by the King Cole sock yarn in the window. Now I have been reading how cheap and soft it is on a forum so maybe when I go to collect my glasses.....

This is a cardigan I have just finished in some Rowan Damask Bought at half price in John Lewis's sale. Did I mention I have hundreds of buttons, few of which are even pairs? Well I used some here. At least if I am bored it is something to look at.Also today I have indulged in my slightly secret (people tend to smirk) pastime of scrap booking (no don't laugh- I can't help having a penchant for pretty papers and sticky bits) I have 'done' all the photos for our Welsh holiday and when I have the photos printed for the Yorkshire trip I shall defiantly do them too. So what if no one ever sees them.

Thursday, July 10, 2008

This lovely package arrived from my Secret Pal. The sock yarn is a beautiful variegated blue called most appropriately 'Summer Skies'. I am itching to cast on the accompanying pattern which is a pretty leafy pattern. Also included is a really cute tape measure.

Reading the blog of my downstream Pal I realise there is yet another 'question of the week' How these weeks fly by!!

1) Where is your favorite place to go for vacation/holiday? We always holiday in England - and that is fine by me. My favourite place is usually the one we have just been to - currently the North Yorkshire Moors and coast.I also love Northumberland, Somerset, Shropshire,2) Where is one place you’d like to go?I'd love to visit Skye or the Hebrides or Shetland or Aran. I was traveling behind a Dormobile today and thought that might not be a bad idea................

This week was the last time we will be able to join in Tot's Time at Attenborough. Millie will be 5 in September so when the next session starts she will be a school child.How on earth did that happen? Of course she is absolutely ready for school but I will miss our Wednesdays. Still there will always be the school holidays! We finished on a lovely one anyway. It was a Teddy Bears Picnic so we were accompanied by Pooh and Baby Kanga. Here is Millie gathering leaves to make bear food.

Note the head wear. The leader said it was so they could hide in the bushes and be difficult to find. Millie said 'It's camouflage'

Sadly it's farewell to 'Other Millie' too although we hope to get together at the library for some of the holiday activities.

Saturday, July 5, 2008

I am all behind with these questions of the week so this is a catch-up.Week 2As a kid, what did you look forward to most about summer vacation/break/holiday?

Crikey this is going back a bit. I really can't remember. I know they seemed endless and I remember groups of us going off over the fields in a free-range way that wouldn't happen today. I have small black and white snapshots reminding me of the holidays and day-trips we used to go on. Often we would set off early in the morning for a 2-3 hour drive to the sea side. This was when petrol was £1.00 for 4 gallons.

Week 3What would you consider the perfect amount of stash?

Probably slightly less than I have. There is yarn in there I am sure I'll never use - not because of lack of time but lack of will as it was bought for all the wrong reasons - mainly cheapness which has turned out to be false economy. I must get it sorted and ebay'ed and only have stuff I love - that would be the perfect stash.

Week 4

1) What yarn (that you don’t have/haven’t used) would make your stash “complete”? I love the colours in Habu yarns and Sublime - I never seem to buy them. I'd like to try the new yarns made from milk which are again lovely subtle colours, Handmaiden sea silk and Koigu. I expect there are lots more that I can't think of.2) What yarn do you never want to be without? Alpaca, lace weight and sock yarn. You can always start a new pair of socks when you don't know what to knit next. If you have been having size / tension issues a new shawl will take away those problems and alpaca is just good for a cuddle, especially if it's mixed lightly with a little silk.

The Oldest UFO Of All

Cast List

Me, married to James. We live with Lily-the-dogDaughter Rosemary, mother of Millie born September 03 separated from Jamie, not living with JohnnyDaughter Isabel, married her James May 09 and they live with 4 rabbits, Barney and Roxy indoors, Mo and Mist outdoors in their luxury condo, and two kittens Archie and Skye